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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Adoption Ideas

Great article from Harvard Business.org - (via Big Dog, Little Dog) ...

Overcome Objections

Why Doing Things Half Right Gives You the Best Results

One key idea is when rolling something out ... :
Halfway through each training, after describing the process, I always asked the same question:

Why won't this work for you?

Then he overcomes the objections one by one by allowing modification of what is planned. Clearly, we can't always do this in our role, but certainly asking the question is a great idea. In fact, when I do presentations, this is often the question that really gets audiences going. And I've said before that they are really good at defining the barriers. I need to get better at enlisting them to overcome those barriers.

Embrace Chaos

This reminds me a bit of the adoption trick of letting everyone know how chaotic things are going to be when the new system rolls out. The more you trumpet, almost celebrate, the chaos and the problems - the more people are willing to help to make it happen.

Flexibility

So maybe this gets me back to the same bottom line that the author has ...

Make it half a solution or a partial solution or a flexible solution so that it can be adopted in ways that work for the individuals who have to do it.

4 comments:

Blogger In Middle-earth said...

Kia ora Tony

Since very early this century I have been following a lead given me by Derek Wenmoth to find out about 'postmodernism'.

It's been a fascinating journey so far, but it has helped me recognise some of the players on the way.

I identify what you're discussing here as postmodernism. This is not a criticism; only an observation.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Anonymous said...

At our organization we talk about "failing cheap, failing fast" and it resonates with doing something half right.

The need for speed asks us to throw out all the ideas and beliefs that equate to perfection--what a challenge!

The need to connect, build relationships, communicate using all the gifts technology provides inspires us to cut through the acceleration so we can be present in the moment--and make contact.

I like the idea of the hub--it can be lighter than the commitment of the community while enabling us to gather around a topic.

Tony Karrer said...

@Ken - I'm not sure I quite get what you are saying on this.

@Bernice - That's a great point. One of the profound learning moments for me as a researcher was that even disproving something has value. Therefore there is almost no failure unless you set yourself up wrong. If you are running a test to see if something will work, then positive or negative is not really a failure. The only bad result is not finding out what will happen.

I hadn't really connected that idea with this idea - but the combination is very interesting!

Blogger In Middle-earth said...

Kia ora Tony!

The last time I got into a position like this, through a discussion on your blog, was when I wrote a post on complexity systems. That was a while back :-)

Perhaps it's time for a post on postmodernism. You've got me thinking now.

Hmmm.

Catchya later